By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has called for the harmonization of taxes, rates, fees and levies across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to reduce the burden of multiple taxation on businesses and create a more conducive environment for investment and enterprise growth.
The President of ACCI, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, made the call on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF) 2026.
Obegolu said businesses in the FCT, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises, were often confronted with multiple charges imposed by different authorities for similar or related activities, increasing compliance costs and putting pressure on already constrained operating margins.
He urged the FCT Administration, area councils and relevant revenue-generating agencies to sustain dialogue with the organized private sector towards developing a more coordinated and business-friendly system of taxation.
“Where practicable, a single, transparent and predictable payment framework would significantly reduce compliance costs, improve the ease of doing business and encourage more enterprises to formalize, invest and expand,” he said.
The ACCI President stressed that taxation should generate the revenue required for public services and national development while remaining fair, predictable, transparent and supportive of economic growth.
He also called for continuous consultation between government and the private sector, improved infrastructure, easier access to affordable finance, simplified trade procedures and stronger support for local manufacturing and export-oriented businesses.
Obegolu said Nigeria could not build a sustainable and competitive economy without producing more of what it consumes, processing more of its raw materials and exporting more value-added goods and services.
He described the AITF as a bridge between products and markets, ideas and investment, and entrepreneurship and prosperity.
According to him, the 21st edition will bring together more than 500 exhibitors, showcase over 10,000 products, services and solutions, and attract close to 100,000 visitors during its 12-day duration.
He said the fair would provide opportunities for business-to-business and business-to-government engagements, investment networking, policy dialogue, product exhibitions, fashion and creative displays, cultural activities and consumer interaction.
The ACCI President urged exhibitors to go beyond displaying their products by building relationships, finding customers, exploring partnerships, meeting investors and pursuing opportunities within Nigeria, across Africa and in the global marketplace.
He also invited international partners and members of the diplomatic community to view Nigeria not only as a large consumer market but as a destination for production, investment and regional trade.
Obegolu said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provided an opportunity for Nigerian businesses to expand into African markets, while responsible investment could strengthen productive capacity and deepen value addition.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said trade fairs should go beyond exhibitions to generate actual transactions, partnerships, investments and access to new markets.
She urged businesses to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and improve their competitiveness to access regional and global value chains.
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Abhishek Singh, said India viewed Nigeria as a strategic partner and expressed interest in deeper cooperation in areas including technology, healthcare, critical minerals, innovation, start-ups and digital infrastructure.
Singh said India-Nigeria trade had rebounded to about US$9.2 billion in 2025–2026, stressing the importance of greater business-to-business engagement and co-innovation.
The First Deputy President of ACCI and Chairman of the 21st AITF Organising Committee, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said the fair was designed to respond to the needs of businesses by providing opportunities for trade, investment, networking and market access.
The Director-General of ACCI, Agbaidu Jideani, in his closing remarks, said the fair was more than an exhibition, as it connects businesses with customers, investors, distributors, government and international partners.
Jideani urged participants to turn the relationships established at the fair into concrete business opportunities and prosperity.
The fair also features business-to-business and business-to-government engagements, investment networking, policy dialogue, cultural activities, fashion and creative displays, and consumer interactions.
